What is known for sure is that Moruya definitely had an agricultural and pastoral show in 1871.

In 1872 the Moruya Agricultural and Pastoral Society was formed.

The show began as a ploughing competition between local agriculturalists on pastoral land on the north side of the Moruya river. Competitors aimed to plough the straightest lines and the neatest furrows.

Such events began all around the country, aiming to improve Australian agricultural practices - upon which the economy so heavily relied.

"The show was the main thing in town," Mr Boyton, current show society treasurer, said.

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It became a social gathering point - the district's major social event of the calendar year.

In 1878 the society was leasing two plots of land on the southern bank of the Moruya river as a showground.

Within a few years, the show had extended to people competing with livestock and produce. By 1880 the society was discussing the need for permanent buildings for exhibition purposes.

In 1915 the show moved to its current location at Moruya Showground - at the time called Moruya Park.

The history and evolution of the show is closely linked to the development of the Moruya community.

"There is so many different organisations in this town that came out of the show society," Mr Boyton said.

"These ideas were talked about at show meetings and then people went off and started them as year-round things."

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2EARFM radio is one such example: started in 1981 after discussion at the show society's AGM.

The Moruya show was the only show to run on the south coast in 1942 as World War II raged in Europe. Later shows during the war were cancelled with the army using the showgrounds.

"Prizes used to be a cup of sugar because through the depression and after the wars people needed sugar," Mr Boyton said.

In 1981 the Moruya Show Society elected to change their name to the Eurobodalla District Show Society with the slogan 'South Coast's Great Experience' in the hope of building community support throughout the region and further afield.

Throughout the 1990's much of the current infrastructure was built, including the secretary's office, horse yards and ticket booth.

In 2008 the show launched an official website.

2022 celebrates 150 years since the foundation of the Moruya Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and still the show continues to be a popular community event.

The 144th Eurobodalla Agricultural Show is being held at the Moruya Showground January 21 and 22.